post-hype: Lykke Li

"For You I Keep My Legs Apart"

Lykke Li (pronounced Lookey Loo??) is the latest Scandanavian sweetheart to make our collective hearts flutter. Her record Youth Novels is the type of minimalist pop that blends the boundaries of indie bedroom folk and laptop pop, with weeping orchestrations and arrangements by, you guessed it, Bjorn Yttling of PB&J and Lasse Marten, who also worked on Our Ill Wills and Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've been Gone". Lykke is bound for exponential stardom, or at least fan-boy dom, as her coy, slinky vibe is sure to win over last years Feist converts and hype eating hipsters, alike. Goldmines like "Dance, Dance Dance", which features the precious "My hips they lie/ cause in reality/ I'm shy, shy, shy", is poised to wind up on college playlists across the country, while "Little Bit" is likely to be zapped into your home Television set via a Honda commercial. And rightfully so, as Lykke has all the makings of a Swedish pop sensation; sincere, smart, beautiful and Swedish, that's all it takes. Not only does she have the stuff FM pop stations should be drooling over, she's got tracks that scream "remix", like "I'm Good, I'm Gone" and the slightly robotic breakup jam "Complaint Department" ("If you want to complain/ I'm not the complaint department").

The only thing preventing International stardom is the limited distribution, as Youth Novels is currently only packaged for Scandanavian consumption, although we're pretty sure after all the shows she played at SXSW that somebody is bound to ink a deal to bring it Stateside. Right now the only place to buy Youth Novels is HERE.
She will be making her NYC debut 5/7 at Joe's Pub, with another date at the Bowery Ballroom 5/8. Peep the video that made me fall for Lykke below.






"Little Bit" in the Street

more swedish music: Club 8

"Cuz I Need Heaven Just Like You"

No not S Club 7 or 8-Ball, Club 8 is among the elite elders of the swedish indie pop community (and what a sweet, sincere community it is). And yes, for the 74th time, WE LOVE SWEDISH MUSIC. Club 8 apparently claim some hypothetical indie rock homecoming king and queen title in their native land. To be quite honest I'd never heard of them 'til last week (shows what I know). Coincidently, their phenomenally titled The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming, their 8th LP, drops next Tuesday in Sveden (November 13th in the States). While the band is known for mellow-electronic dance cuts and a similar downtempo bossanova/trip-hop vibe, "Heaven" is jangly funk guitar complete with maracas and bongo's and pogo friendly rhythm that brings to mind fellow Swedes Peter Bjorn & John's whistl-tastic "Young Folks." With that morsel in your brain, Club 8 have been hustlin' Stockholm and surrounding areas since PB&J were eating PB&J. Yeah, thats lame, but seriously, Club 8's Johan Angergard runs the prolific Swedish label Labrador and has been playing music with the sexy, coy Karolina Komstedt since 1995 (Remember '95? Dookie and Suburban Grunge. Good times). Already a mixtape staple for late summer/early fall. Not gonna lie, I wish the new Rilo Kiley sounded a bit like this, but hey, you cant always get what you want. Dig "Heaven" below and peep the video of one of Club 8's biggest hits to date, "Missing You." (Warning: "Missing You" is a little cheesy, in the realm of Ween's "Friends" & the few unsincere moments in Sally Shapiro songs, but regardless it's kinda catchy).

Oh, yeah and John and Karolina are ridiculously, ridiculously good looking. Like almost obscenely good looking.

Club 8- Heaven

Taken By Trees

"Hours Pass Like Centuries"

A sucker for the soft coo of female singers, as well as swedish indie pop, I was super excited when Victoria Bergman - aka Taken By Trees, (formerly of The Concretes and, of course, featured in Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks") - released her latest album, Open Field, last week. Since then, it has quickly become one of my favorite records of the year so far. It's soft and warm like your favorite hoody on a breezy summer's night near the water, and as comforting as the ebb and flow of the ocean. Here's what Victoria has to say:

Here we are at the verge of summer, letting the soft air stroke our skin and the verdure caress our minds. I honestly couldn't think of a more beautiful moment for finally setting Open Field free. It feels solemn and kind of bittersweet. I am now handing it over to you all to have and to hold. Please hold hard, dearest ones. It is no longer mine alone and that is where the bittersweet feeling comes in. Like those early strawberries I tried the other day or forcing myself to jump into the cold but oh so refreshing water. I hope you will take care of Open Field and treat it as a friend through all seasons. May it nourish your imagination to get inspired to try new ways.

By for now,
TBT

Peep the incredible video for "Lost & Found" below (it'll make you feel like your lost on a really foreign island). You can download the track too!

Taken By Trees- Lost and Found

DA HOOD INTERNET

"Walk it Out"

So we've been digging these guys for a while now after hearing about them on Gorilla vs. Bear. Ever since we've been including their work on nearly everything we do around here (Knuckles McGregor Podcast, last week's Bangers, and last week's Feist Post). Seriously, it's just really hard to resist the juxtaposing sounds of squeemish indie rock with flo hot, drrrty hip hop. Check out ABX's mash Hot Chip vs. Was (not Was) vs. UNK "Walk the Dinosaur Over and Out." Also, finally, a good mash up using Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks." Bonus points for utilizing Sisqo's "Thong Song."

For your aural enjoyment:

Hot Chip vs. Was(not Was) vs. UNK- Walk the Dinosaur Over and Out

Peter Bjorn and John vs. Sisqo- Young Thongs (The Prairie Cartel)

Why not